• DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.20929.x
• Corpus ID: 10264296

IC4663: the first unambiguous [WN] Wolf-Rayet central star of a planetary nebula

@article{Miszalski2012IC4663TF,
  title={IC4663: the first unambiguous [WN] Wolf-Rayet central star of a planetary nebula},
  author={Brent Miszalski and Paul A. Crowther and Orsola De Marco and J. Taal-Van Koppen and Anthony F. J. Moffat and Agn{\`e}s Acker and Todd C. Hillwig},
  journal={arXiv: Solar and Stellar Astrophysics},
  year={2012}
}

• B. Miszalski, P. Crowther, +4 authors T. Hillwig
• Published 15 March 2012
• Physics
• arXiv: Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Several [WC]-type central stars of planetary nebulae (PNe) are known to mimic the spectroscopic appearance of massive carbon-rich or WC-type Wolf-Rayet stars. In stark contrast, no [WN]-type central stars have yet been identified as clear-cut analogues of the common nitrogen-rich or WN-type Wolf-Rayet stars. We have identified the [WN3] central star of IC4663 to be the first unambiguous example in PNe. The low luminosity nucleus and an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) halo surrounding the main nebula prove the bona-fide PN nature of IC4663. Model atmosphere analysis reveals the [WN3] star to have an exotic chemical composition of helium (95%), hydrogen ( O(He), that exists in parallel to the carbon-rich [WC]->PG1159 sequence. This suggests a simpler mechanism, perhaps a binary merger, can better explain H-deficiency in PNe and potentially other H-deficient/He-rich stars. In this respect IC4663 is the best supported case for a possible merged binary central star of a PN.